Goodbye Bear review

 

Bear died on a Friday, as sun speckled the grass and caterpillars nibbled the leaves. Beaver and Mole are devastated by the loss of their friend. They share their sadness and anger, but find joy in their memories and stories of Bear. (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Here is a beautifully heartfelt and tender story about Beaver and Mole feeling lost without their beloved friend Bear.  Bear passes away leaving the friends finding it difficult to move on without him.   Everything is just not the same and they talk about how sad and angry they are with his absence.  When they decide to visit his tree house, they find meaningful projects they can do to keep his memory alive and help give them a little closure in the meantime.  This gentle and sweet book will help with feelings and the grieving process little ones may be experiencing over a loved one.  Even though it is a delicate subject, there is hope and healing throughout with touching words and beautiful illustrations. The friends shared stories about Bear and connected to his spirit from the stars in the sky making it a special way to remember him in their hearts. I could see a lot of questions and talking together after reading this story.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

 

Title:  Goodbye Bear

Author:  Jane Chapman

Pub. date: February 2022, Tiger Tales

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Best Wishes review

 

Becca Singer is having the Worst Day Ever. Her best friend, Harper, dumped her, and Becca is totally friendless and alone. Then the box arrives in the mail. Inside the box?  One bracelet, plus a mysterious note telling Becca to make a wish. So Becca puts on the bracelet--why not, right?--and wishes to have friends. Lots of friends. So many friends.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

Ten year old Becca is looking forward to her birthday sleepover with best friend Harper.  They have been friends since kindergarten and this is the first year they have been separated into different classrooms.  She is saddened when she learns Harper will not be able to come over because of a chess tournament the next morning.  She also seems to be friends with Georgette from her class more and more lately making Becca feel left out.  She lets Harper know that she is not happy about things but then it turns when Harper tells Becca that she feels they have grown apart and thinks they could be regular friends instead of best friends.  Becca does not like that idea so the two split up their friendship entirely.  Feeling sad and upset about her horrible day,  Becca goes home to find a package addressed to her.  Inside the anonymous box contains a mysterious note and a bracelet.  The bracelet will grant one wish to its wearer.  Feeling alone without Harper,  Becca makes a wish for friends.  Not just one friend but a lot of friends.  Possibly a wish that may come with many regrets.

This is a cute and fast-paced story for the middle grade reader.   Growing up and growing apart from friends is something tweens face daily.  Things get out of hand quickly after Becca wishes for lots and lots of friends.  At first it was fun for her to be liked by everyone.  But each day gets harder, trying to keep up with so many people wanting to be her friend.  She realizes that this is not reality and if she removed the bracelet everything would go back to being the way it was.  Thinking that the bracelet may be a curse instead,  Becca quickly regrets her wish.  The story has good character development when she learns a lesson that it doesn't matter how many friends she has, what is a true friend and how important it is to be a good friend herself.  She helps one classmate named Shep share his talents and another named Willow who she finds has a lot in common with.  There is more magic and mystery when an unknown and very persistent woman wants to purchase her bracelet.  After all the whirlwind this story offers around the wish, Becca sends off the bracelet to a girl named Addie with a special letter about the magic of the bracelet and offering friendship and best wishes to her.  I am looking forward to reading the second book The Sister Switch to see why Addie is next to receive the bracelet and how her story unfolds.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-10. ~ 

Title:  Best wishes - Book 1

Author:  Sarah Mlynowski

Pub. date:  September 2022, Scholastic Press

Genre: Middle Grade

Hardcover, 171 pgs. 

Ten Ways to Hear Snow review

A snowy day, a trip to Grandma's, time spent cooking with one another, and space to pause and discover the world around you come together in this perfect book for reading and sharing on a cozy winter day.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

One winter morning, Lina wakes up and everything seems silent.  The blizzard from the night before left the town blanketed with fresh snow.  It was grape leaf day at her Sitti's (grandmas) which is a special Lebanese dish they make together.  She is looking forward to cooking with her and also wants to check in because of the storm. She bundles up to head over and along the way Lina takes notice of the world around her.  She realizes that snow can have different ways to sound.  From the shovels scraping on the sidewalk to the crunching of boots walking, she counts nine different ways she hears snow.  When Lina arrives, the two spend time together cooking and having fun moments but Sitti also shows Lina a tenth way to hear snow. 

This is a nice book for a cold and snowy winter day.  The descriptive words like scraaape, swish-wish or scritch, scratch had me hearing the sounds of snow in my mind.  The illustrations are calming and quiet, giving you a sense of how it felt after a snowfall in Lina's town.   It was nice to see the special relationship Lina had with her Sitti cooking and being silly.  She also learned that even though Sitti is loosing her vision, another sense is heightened and was able to have Sitti show her a tenth way to hear snow.  Slowing down and taking in the moments of nature after a snowstorm is an activity that will get the kids and family together outdoors.  This story could also work for a winter themed school activity as well for a break in the day. The sights and sounds of people skiing and kids building a snowman makes me wish for a snowstorm.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title:  Ten Ways to Hear Snow

Author:  Cathy Camper, illustrated by Kenard Pak

Pub. date: October 2020 Kokila

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

The Snowflake review

 

 A wintery tale about a young girl wishing for a perfect Christmas tree, and a young snowflake wishing for the perfect place to land.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A tiny snowflake forms from the clouds and begins to fall.  She doesn't want to fall downward but the cloud tells her that is what snowflakes do and to not worry because she will find her way.  While the little snowflake floats here and there, she hopes for a perfect place to land.  Meanwhile, a little girl named Noelle longs for a Christmas tree like the one she sees in the store window.  She finds a pine branch along the path and takes it home to decorate it with many different colors.  As she places the lovely tree on her outside windowsill, she hopes real snow will cover it someday.   Eventually, the two characters paths cross and the snowflake finds the perfect place to settle down while giving Noelle a happy surprise. 

 

Here is the last of my reads from my holiday stack and I thought it is still worth mentioning even though Christmas is past.  This sweet story goes back and forth between the snowflake falling and hoping to land in the right spot and Noelle wanting a beautiful Christmas tree for her family.  The illustrations are warm and gentle with many details.  A few of the pages are in a darker tone of grey/dark blue making the text a bit hard to see.  If you are reading aloud to a group, this may slow down your flow.  The story did not go into a reason why Noelle and her family did not have a tree but it leaves room for thinking and talking about it if kids ask.  Otherwise, it is a nice holiday or winter book to add to next years Christmas read list.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title:  The Snowflake

Author: Benji Davies

Pub. date: October 2020, Harper Collins

Genre:  picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Once Upon a Forest review

 

After a fire leaves the forest smoldering, a determined marmot and her resourceful bird friend set off on a rescue mission in this beautifully illustrated, wordless story.
 (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

While tending to her garden, a marmot notices smoke in the distance. She goes to investigate and sees a helicopter putting out a forest fire.  With the help of her friend little bird, she packs up tools, supplies and saplings from home and is saddened to find the remains of the devastation caused by a wildfire.  Determined to regrow the forest, marmot and bird clear, pull, dig and plant saplings bringing new life back to the charred land.

 

I have always been a fan of wordless picture books.  It is especially important that the illustrations convey a meaning and emotion.  In this heartwarming story, you will feel what marmot feels; wonder, sadness, anger, determination and the joy of watching that determination grow by the touching illustrations.  The black and white pencil drawings are simple but yet expressive.  Adding a hint of green on the saplings and touches of blue for the water enhances the beauty to the storytelling.  The characters show that caring for our earth will make a difference when they plant new saplings and watch over them until they are sturdy and strong.  Encouraging your child to sit and tell you the story by what they see happening through the pictures is a great way to build comprehension.  There is so much opportunity for discussion after reading this beautiful story.  I think this is a just right book for ages 4-7.~

 

Title:  Once Upon a Forest

Author:  Pam Fong

Pub. date:  February 2022, Random House

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.